For more than 20 years, football season for Pete Gambardella meant having Andrew Schron on his side nearly every fall. In the locker room or the coaches’ office, on the field and the sideline.

When Gambardella was putting together an Advance All-Star season as a senior in 1992, Schron was blocking for him up front on the team that sent Curtis to the PSAL playoffs for the first time. The following year, with Gambardella off to Boston University, Schron picked up the honor for himself.

By the time Gambardella finished up at BU and come home to start a teaching career, Schron and Pat Chanod were already around helping out Curtis coach Fred Olivieri. Gambardella, Schron and Peter McNamara would form the core of the staff behind Olivieri that won four PSAL titles in 10 seasons.

When Olivieri retired after that fourth championship in 2007 — the season all five of Schron’s offensive linemen earned Advance All Star honors of their own — Gambardella took over the program knowing he had his old teammate to back him up.

“He’s one of my best friends,” said Gambardella. “He’s my son’s godfather. Coaching without him was something I’ve never envisioned.”

But it’s what Gambardella had to do this fall, a 7-4 season for the Warriors that ended with a 28-6 PSAL semifinal loss to eventual city champion Erasmus Hall. 

TREATMENTS TAKE TOLL 

Schron’s long battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has taken a toll. The treatments, including a bone marrow transplant he received from his sister Veronica a few years ago, have led to more health issues. On the eve of the 2011 postseason, doctors put Schron in a coma for several days.

He worked himself back into condition to join the Warriors during the preseason, including their camp trip. But a skin condition — “If you saw him it looked like he had a sunburn,” said Gambardella — proved debilitating. He had trouble breathing. So just as the season was starting, Schron stepped away.

“Having him around was something I always counted on,” said Gambardella. “Knowing Drew and the way he is and the way he loves coaching and the way he loves being around those kids, I figured as soon as he could he would bounce back and he would be coaching again.

“It took me around midseason to realize he wouldn’t be coming back this season.”

Since the Warriors’ season ended, however, the Schron family has found itself facing a new and more dire challenge.

Three weeks ago, Drew and wife Shannon’s 18-month-old son, Jake, was hospitalized and diagnosed with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Jake is going to need a heart transplant.

Shannon, a Staten Island Sports Hall of Famer for her softball exploits at Port Richmond HS and Long Island University when she was known as Shannon Payne, has spent every moment at the hospital while Drew watches over their 3-year-old twin daughters, Courtney and Mackenzie.

Their friends and family have mobilized quickly to offer them the support they need. They’ll be holding a dinner at Adriana’s in New Dorp on Friday, Feb. 8 to raise money to offset the medical costs. 

COACHES HELP 

“They both don’t have a lot of days of work to take,” said Gambardella. “Plus the medical expenses that will come with the transplant, that’s what gave us the idea that this is a necessity to make sure Jake gets everything that he needs.”

Naturally, Gambardella has found assistance throughout the Staten Island football community. Susan Wagner coach Al Paturzo has reached out to Miami Dolphins assistant coach Lou Anarumo and will meet with Oregon assistant Jerry Azzinaro at the Fiesta Bowl in a search for items for fundraising raffles. Tottenville coach Jim Munson has offered to do the same with Alabama assistant Jeff Stoutland.

Gambardella has been in touch with former Warrior Steve Gregory and the Athlife foundation that both Curtis and Gregory are affiliated with.

“Staten Island guys that are in spots that can help,” said Gambardella.

It’s the support they need to make sure that when Andrew Schron is back on the Curtis sidelines, Jake is there watching. 

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/ABenefitForJake and follow the Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund on Twitter @binifund for updates. 